Hanon · The Virtuoso Pianist · Part II
Hanon Exercise No. 21 Third, fourth and fifth fingers: a longer pattern
Exercise 21 of 60 from Hanon’s The Virtuoso Pianist, newly engraved from the 1900 Schirmer edition. The first exercise of Part II, now sixteen notes to the bar: what the left hand’s third, fourth and fifth fingers do in the first beat, the right hand mirrors in the third. Press Play to hear it on a real piano, set the speed anywhere from Hanon’s 60 up to his 108, hear one hand at a time or switch on the metronome, and click any note to start from there.
As printed in Hanon’s book
The Virtuoso-Pianist. Part II
Transcendent Exercises for Preparing the Fingers for the Virtuoso Exercises.
M.M. ♩ = 60 to 108
Observe, that the work done by the 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers of the left hand in the first beat of each measure (A) is repeated inversely by the same fingers of the right hand in the third beat of the same measure (B).
Practise the exercises in Part II, like those in Part I, with the metronome at 60; similarly practise all the following exercises where the tempo is not indicated, and gradually increase the speed to 108. Wherever a different tempo is required, it will be indicated at the head of the exercise.
Having fully mastered this exercise, go on to the next without stopping on this note.
Editor’s note: Hanon prints the last remark beside the final note of the exercise: “this note” is that last C.
Click any note to hear from there. Space plays and pauses.
Quick facts
- Book
- C. L. Hanon, The Virtuoso Pianist in Sixty Exercises, Part II
- Trains
- The first exercise of Part II, now sixteen notes to the bar: what the left hand’s third, fourth and fifth fingers do in the first beat, the right hand mirrors in the third.
- Key
- C major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Length
- 29 bars
- Hanon’s speed
- 60 to 108 crotchet beats a minute
- Source
- G. Schirmer edition, 1900; English text by Theodore Baker
- Copyright
- Public domain. This engraving is free to print, copy and share.
Questions and answers
How fast should Hanon No. 21 be played?
Hanon marks it 60 to 108, in crotchet beats a minute: start at 60 and raise the speed a little at a time, only once every note is even, until you reach 108. The speed slider above the music covers that range.
What is Hanon exercise No. 21 for?
The first exercise of Part II, now sixteen notes to the bar: what the left hand’s third, fourth and fifth fingers do in the first beat, the right hand mirrors in the third. It is in Part II (transcendent exercises).
Can I print or download Hanon No. 21?
Yes. Use Download the PDF at the top of this page for a print-ready A4 copy of this exercise; it also prints well on US Letter with fit to page. The whole book, all 60 exercises, is one PDF on the Hanon page. Both are free and out of copyright.
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